Episode III has been uploaded and ready to view. I’m hoping that this episode is a huge improvement over the last ones. Each episode I try to correct or improve on things from the previous one.
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Category Archives: Fiction
Production Update #16 – Seven Gates Where Angels Fall – As Darkness Reigns
The third episode of Seven Gates Where Angels Fall is close to completion. I set out a year ago working on this project, the goal and vision was clear. I was going to teach myself animation and tell a story at the same time. I knew that each episode would be a major leap from the previous one as my knowledge and skill levels increased. Episode three doesn’t fail to follow that model. Subtle things are sometimes what really seem to be the area of improvement.
I have tried to always keep peoples comments and suggestions in my mind as I move forward. One question I get a lot is , “Why post the episodes while you are learning and teaching yourself this?“. The answer is I learn better that way and If someone else can learn from my mistakes all the better.
Everyone has an opinion these days on whats the best way to do something. I’m not one of those people. I do what works for me and as I learn more I adjust as needed. I personally work better that way and tend to learn faster. Every one is different and there is no one “fits all” approach to learning or developing new skills and knowledge sets. So If i were to give advice, it would be this. Do what works for you and learn along the way. Every mistake is not a failure, its just a chance to do it again.
The above image is a new character concept created in DAZ 3d using Iray render. Iclone will have this type of render coming in the next few months as well. (Iclone being the software I currently use for animation.) As I continue working on this project I am also planning new episodes and continual story lines, well beyond what has already been scripted and recorded. This is just how I work sometimes, I just keep throwing ideas and concepts around as I work on current episodes. It helps to keep me focused as well as keeping the ideas from being lost over time.
Seven Gates Where Angels Fall Episode III trailer.
Episode III – As Darkness Reigns is coming soon !
Production update #15: Seven Gates where angels fall.
Episode 3 production is well underway, roughly a third of the episode is completely done. The remaining two thirds are roughed out and in the works.
Seven gates has been a great learning experience as well as a whole lot of fun. The creation of each episode, forces me to improve and push my ability. While I know that I have a lot to learn still, I feel I have learned a lot in the last year. I just hope this improvement is evident in each episode.
There are three things I try to focus my attention on. The first is to take each day and try to improve or learn one new thing, that pushes me a step ahead of the day before. It could be anything new or even a revisit to something old that I needed to refresh myself on. The idea is to progress and improve in a meaningful way.
The second item is remembering everything takes time. I know where I want to be and I know what I need to get there. However, I need to remind myself that it takes time walking the path and learning the lay of the land on the way. It’s easy to forget this, we all tend to focus our gaze on the horizon and try to see what the future holds. We forget to look around in the moment and realize that the journey is just as important as the destination, maybe even more important.
The third and final item is to continue the process of creating, new stories and new ideas. It’s OK to take a break for a few days and just have fun creating something new or play around with a new idea. When I return to the last scene I was working on I feel refreshed and I see sometimes things that i had not seen before. I may have taken time to study new materials or watch tutorials and that new knowledge now helps me move the project along.
I’m a storyteller and that will never change. The world inside my head is a strange one, full of exotic worlds and creatures. Maybe I never gave up my imaginary friends from childhood, instead I brought them along with me and allowed them to invite their friends.
Episode 2 – Seven Gates Where Angels Fall “Dawn of the Fallen” – Released.
Episode two is finally released!!
As I mentioned before all episode’s are now running at about 10 to 15 minutes long. This means that the actual episode two script that was given to the cast is now broken into three parts (Ep 2 , Ep 3, Ep 4).
So if any of the cast are wondering where their lines or parts are in this episode, do not worry they are all there just in upcoming episodes 🙂 .
I hope this episode is an improvement in production and presentation over episode 1. I tried to give this episode a grittier feel to its color and lighting schemes, while trying to not make it appear as if the lighting is to dark.
As always I hope you enjoy this episode and I’m excited to start on the next episode.
Upcoming projects : Afallon Flashpoint & more Episodes of Seven Gates Where Angels fall.
The last year of has been one filled with lots of strides made in teaching myself animation and understanding the production process. The process is one of learning and developing new strengths on a daily basis, improving each day as much as possible from the day before.
I started out as a writer and made the decision to transition over to animation. The next project I will be working on is taking my Afallon series of novels and adapting them to the animated screen. The project is basically in the early stages of layout and adaption from novel to script. I will continue to work on Seven Gates and this will be my primary focus at the moment. The Afallon series however will be worked on as I need breaks and a change of pace 🙂
The Afallon Flashpoint project has a much different focus and approach, one that will slowly develop over time and go full speed once Seven Gates has finished. It’s the very early stages of the creation process at the moment. I am basically at the character creation and scene setup stage for the models and the world itself , establishing their look and feel. The following screen shot is a working concept for two of the main characters, Ray and Lily.
For anyone interested the links at the top of the main page of the site will give you more details on the Afallon series. There are two links listed at the top – Marshall Kaine Journals and Afallon that will give you all the details on the novels as well as several short stories.
All the cast that will be involved in Afallon will be getting free digital versions of the novels to help in learning the characters and the world itself. So if anyone is interested in doing the voice work for this I will give you the digital copy to start reading and seeing which characters you may be interested in. No official casting calls have gone out yet and I am far off from even doing that. The however to this is any current cast of Seven Gates are already by default given the option if they so choose 🙂
I also will be contacting several others who have messaged me about voice acting roles recently as well. This project is far out in the future still. I am taking a different approach in hopes of creating a better production and faster time line once it gets rolling.
Episode 2 of Seven Gates will be released within the next week if not earlier. I have finished the first edits already and have only to work out any changes or corrections and it will be ready to post.
“Seven Gates Where Angels Fall – Order of the isle.” The complete first full episode has been Released.
The final full version of Episode 1 is released and ready to watch. I combined the new edited version of part 1 to this episode instead of releasing an edited part 1 and then part 2. This was done due to some rearrangement of scenes and dialogue changes made to the flow of the script that I felt made more sense all as one combined episode.
I learned a lot during this process and hope that it will show in episode 2. I feel that its noticeable through the first episode from beginning to end, which I feel met the goal of this being a project about learning . I also feel that it shows others its the experience of creating that matters to me. The process of taking my writing from novels to animation was a learning curve to say the least. Since I taught myself animation and studied as I worked, I found I learned a lot, so much that I cannot wait to dive into episode 2. Was it the best idea to self teach myself animation and take on a large project like this at the same time? Probably not, however for me that is the only way I can learn and stay focused and motivated.
Many in the cast may wonder where a few scenes went. The scenes have just been moved to the beginning of Episode 2, after a few reviews of the story’s flow they seemed more appropriate at the beginning of the second episode then the ending of the first.I really want to extend a huge offering of thanks to the cast, they are awesome and extremely talented and could not have done this without their contributions. I also want to thank Dale and Alan for allowing me to use their music in this project I hope it does there amazing talent justice.
The look and feel of the final episode was done in an attempt to give the series it’s own feel and tone. It’s a matter of debate if I accomplished that or not. I have had lots of feedback and suggestions since the release of part 1. I worked through all of the suggestions and ideas and tried to make the needed corrections. I am also aware that somethings are a matter of personal preference and tastes. It’s my hope that everyone enjoys the episode and finds something they can take away from it.
